David & Jill scuba dive!!

Sea Experience dive group (we are on left)

  FINALLY, David & Jill get to go scuba diving - the kids can't have all the fun!  We went out with Sea Experience, who both kids worked with getting certified. They were awesome!  Since we had not dove in 5 years (the last boat trip!), we had a dive master with us to make sure we remembered everything, and basically had a guide for the 65' Hog's Heaven wreck dive & 25' reef dive (The Caves).  The weather was gorgeous, there were practically no waves - fantastic!  We are now ready to go dive the Bahamas!!  

So, after diving, you need to rinse your gear really well (to get all the salt out).  David decided filling out dinghy with fresh water was the best way!  It works great!!

Divers in the water! (David on right)

David getting out of water

Scuba gear soaking in fresh water in dinghy

Final Bahamas preparations

Fully stocked pantry

   After 7 months of cruising and playing and working and planning (not to mention all our repairs), we are now in final preparation stages for crossing the Atlantic to the BAHAMAS!!!  I am sure our family & friends are tired of hearing us talk about it.  Now it is really happening!  We should be there by the end of the week.  As part of our preparations, we are stocking up on groceries.  Yes, we can buy them there, but it is cheaper and easier to get them in the States.  Freezers are full, pantry full, and spare parts on in the engine room.

Under bed food storage

Extra soda

Large freezer full of meat and such

Fun around Ft Lauderdale

Bowling at Manor Lanes, Ft Lauderdale

   Over the last few months in Ft Lauderdale, we have had some fun with various activities.  Today, the boys & I went bowling!  Such fun!  We have not been in probably 3 years.  Some pizza & wings and 3 rounds of bowling.  Nice way to spend rainy afternoon.  

   Surrounding us at the marina are many coconut trees.  The city periodically cuts them down.  So, we got to try fresh coconut water & "jelly".  Pretty good!  One of our boat friend's made some coconut rum, so she came over for some pina coladas made with it! Yum!  Last Sunday, some of the boaters had a potluck dinner.  Matthew met a couple little boys staying with grandparents on their boat, and they tried climbing the local trees.

Fresh coconuts from trees

Huge iguana at Bass Pro Shop

Matthew & friends climbing palm tree

Pina Coladas from fresh coconut & coconut water

Thomas bowling

Matthew bowling

Thomas uses scuba gear

Thomas & Marty are ready to get in the water

   Thomas gets to try out our scuba gear for real!!  Our neighbor needed help cleaning the bottom of her boat, so Thomas put on his new fins & boots and mom's other gear and jumped in the river to help her!

Scuba Thomas!

Thomas in his scuba gear

   This week, Thomas is attending camp to get his scuba certification.  He is having a blast!  (We think we have created a monster!!)

Scuba class

Happy birthday, Matthew!!

Matthew's birthday cake

   This weekend, we joined our cousins in West Palm Beach area to celebrate Matthew's birthday! (& Dina's)  Cousin Dina made him an awesome scary dinosaur cake (with volcanoes spewing raspberry sauce!).  We took all the boys to a local water park for a few hours of fun, then back to their house where the dads grilled dinner for us.  It was a wonderful celebration!  Matthew was very pleased with all the presents he received from Nana, family in Atlanta, and at home - especially the wet suit he got from Mom & Dad!

Matthew going down water slide

 

Matthew's wet suit

Blonde Scuba Shark

Matthew learning to scuba dive at camp

    Matthew is having fun at camp in Ft Lauderdale this week.  He has been canoeing, swimming in the ocean, learning about nature, and, the last 2 days, is enjoying their Bubblemakers program.  They go to the pool and teach kids too young to official scuba dive, the safety of scuba, all about the gear, then let them learn & practice in the pool.   Matthew is hooked!  He cannot wait until he is old enough to officially dive!

Matthew goes to camp & Sunday Jazz festival

Matthew off to day camp at Hugh Birch State Park

    This week, Matthew gets to go to Camp Live Oak day camp.  He is busy canoeing, swimming in the ocean, arts & crafts, science, etc.  He is having a blast! At the end of the week, he gets to learn a little about scuba diving in the city pool!

   The first Sunday of each month, Ft Lauderdale's Downtown Riverwalk has a Jazz Festival around lunch time.  Food vendors and live music spread out over .5 mile of beautiful waterfront.  We got lucky this Sunday to hear Billy Bones play wonderful music on various saxophones (Thomas loved it!).   David is a fan of his, so it was quite a treat.

Billy Bones playing sax

Wedding, Boy Scout camp, Camp Nana, family visits

Happy 4th of July!!!!

   Hello again!!  Sorry it has been awhile since I have posted an update.  We had to make one last trip up to TN/NC/GA for a number of reasons, missing our home terribly while we were gone.  We started our road trip by driving back to TN.  We have wonderful friends who have been gone from their 85' houseboat at our home marina, so we were able to stay there during our TN visits the past few months.  It is so nice to get to stay there, as we were able to visit with all our neighbors and friends.  While there, we attended our marina friends' wedding!  So happy for the Handlys!  The next day, David headed to Indianapolis for work, while Thomas headed to a week at Camp Buck Tom Boy Scout camp.  He had a great time hanging out with his buddies, while earning 4-5 merit badges in the process.  While he was on the lake, Matthew got to spend the week alone with Nana in Asheville.  He was so thrilled and had a great time.  Mom had a few days to herself in Lenoir City visiting with friends and taking care of vehicles who were causing problems.   By the end of the week, David & Thomas returned and the family drove to Asheville to spend a few days with David's mom.  Then, we drove to Atlanta to visit with Jill's family (birthdays & 4th of July).  Finally, we drove back to Ft Lauderdale - very  happy to see our home safe & sound on the New River!  

Handly wedding

Matthew turning a flip as he jumps into Nana's pool

Boy Scouts at Camp Buck Tom - flag ceremony

Cousins in Atlanta

Matthew celebrates 4th of July in Roswell